collections

ESMERALDA SHIP BELL

al-Hallaniyah Island (Dhofar Governorate) Origin: Kingdom of Portugal and the Algarves Copper alloy 903–904 AH/1498 CE (Kingdom of Hormuz and Nabahina Kingdom)

MODEL OF MAGAN

Cherry wood and straw bundles Length: 0.8 m (Scale 1:15) 1433 AH/2012 CE During the early Bronze Age boats made of wood, reeds, rope and bitumen sailed the waters of the Oman Sea and Arabian Gulf, carrying large cargoes to possibly as far as Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley. In 1425–26 AH/2005 CE, a 12-metre reconstruction called the Magan was built in Sur, and set sail across the Oman Sea to India. Unfortunately she did not reach her intended destination, but rather sank off the coast of Ra’s al-Hadd. Model making provides opportunities to replicate not only the forms but also the construction techniques of the past. Model maker Fahad bin Khalfan ash-Shu’aibi explained his experience in making the Magan boat model for the National Museum: With this model, I was able to examine how they constructed the real Magan boat out of reeds. Making a model requires more attention and accuracy, and is very difficult. It was an incredible experience, lashing and sewing reed-like material together to create a miniature boat.

MODEL OF JEWEL OF MUSCAT

Cherry wood Length: 1.3 m (Scale 1:15) 1433–34 AH/2012 CE Jewel of Muscat is a reconstruction of a 3rd century AH/9th century CE sewn-plank ship based on a shipwreck discovered off the coast of Indonesia. She was built in the small fishing village of Qantab, in Muscat. More than 130 km of cordage, passed through over 37,000 holes, were required to sew the planks and lash the frames. In 1431 AH/2010 CE, Captain Saleh bin Said al-Jabri and his crew successfully sailed her 6,000 km to Singapore, during which she proved to be strong, fast and weatherly. This is one of the most labour-intensive models made for the National Museum. Similar to the actual Jewel of Muscat, it is completely hand-sewn, with over 37,000 holes and 120,000 stitches. Every piece is an exact 1:15 scale replica of the full-size component. The model maker, Sajid Madathile Valappil helped to build and then sail the full-size Jewel of Muscat from Muscat to Singapore. The attention to detail can be seen in the discolouration of the model’s planking to match the real vessel.

MODEL OF SOHAR

Cherry wood Length: 2.3 m (Scale 1:15) 1433 AH/2012 CE The sewn-plank ship Sohar was built in Sur and named after the historic Omani seaport. In 1400–01 AH/1980–81 CE, she sailed from Oman to China, retracing the routes of early Islamic seafarers who had established what was at the time the longest sea-trading route in the world (9,600 km). Sohar demonstrated that a sewn boat could sail all the way to China. The original ship now stands on the roundabout near the al-Bustan Palace Hotel. Ashraf bin Khalid al-Hamadani was the main model-maker for this replica of the historic ship Sohar. Similar to a previous model he made for the Jewel of Muscat project, the Sohar model has planks stitched together and frames lashed to the planks. Ashraf noted that he ‘particularly enjoyed the challenge of measuring the full-size ship and calculating the correct scale of its components, as the Sohar represents such an important part of Oman’s recent past’.

BADAN SAYYAD

Teak (Tectonagrandis) planks, bilinga bilge keels, sidr (Ziziphus spina-christi) cheek pieces, coconut rope stitching, canvas sail, manila rope rigging Length: 10 m (full-size reconstruction) 1433–34 AH/2012 CE Based on a drawing by Admiral Pâris (1256–57 AH/1841 CE) This sailing boat (badan sayyad) is a simple yet elegant craft. Fishermen used these boats to fish along the coasts. It is the 13th century AH/19th century CE ancestor of the modern fishing badan, a popular craft in Muscat and al-Batinah coast in the 14th century AH/20th century CE. Its most distinctive feature is that it is a sewn representation of a specifically Omani type of vessel. This badan sayyad is based on the drawings of the French naval officer François-Edmund Pâris, who visited Muscat in 1253 AH/1838 CE. These drawings provide an invaluable glimpse of the types of traditional boats such as this one.

MODEL OF SULTANAH

Maker: Carlos Montalvão Length: 1.51 m (Scale 1:24) Wood, linen, canvas, bronze and copper 1438 AH/2017 CE The Sultanah is perhaps Oman’s most famous ship. Built in Bombay (Mumbai) in 1248−49 AH/1833 CE, she was a swift, three-masted naval corvette best known for her diplomatic missions. In 1255−56 AH/1840 CE, Sultan Sayyid Said bin Sultan al-Busaidi dispatched the Sultanah from Zanzibar to New York with his diplomatic envoy ‘Ahmad bin an-Nu’man al-Ka’bi and a cargo of precious goods, including gifts for US President Martin Van Buren. The perilous journey took 87 days, and the Sultanah’s arrival in New York Harbor was met with unprecedented interest and enthusiasm. Two years later, the Sultanah made another important diplomatic voyage, this time to London, with Oman’s ambassador ‘Ali bin Nassir al-Hinai carrying state gifts for Queen Victoria.

Maritime Heritage

ESMERALDA SHIP BELL

MODEL OF MAGAN

MODEL OF JEWEL OF MUS...

MODEL OF SOHAR

BADAN SAYYAD

MODEL OF SULTANAH